Fargo

[Jack]

Roger, do you by any chance know what happened to the Paul Bunyan Fargo sign?

Thanks

It was for Brainerd, not Fargo.

[Roger]

That's about as much as we will ever get!

[Jack]

About Fargo. The film caries with it a very consistent Minnesota winter look. I'm sure there was as discussion between you and the Coen brothers on the subject. Could you elaborate a little on this and how you decided to shoot it this way? I know its a typical question but I have a vested interest in the answer. I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis and thats exactly what it looks like. Lundegaard's Office and the highway outside is so memorable to me that it brings back memories of that area which is now destroyed (by a best buy complex no doubt). To me you captured Minnesota the way Minnesota is. Also, what lighting techniques did you employ? It seems mostly just natural light.

Also, will you be gracing the folks in Minneapolis with your presence this summer/fall?

Thanks.

[Roger]

Jack, Rod Sterling was pretty sharp. Was that the same Rod Sterling of 'Outer Limits' fame? Loved that series. Conrad Hall shot some of the best of them.

I heard the statue of Bunyan was up there for a while but I don't know what happened to it.

The wintry 'look' of Fargo was totally what we were after. The problem was the lack of snow the winter we were shooting. Much of the snow you see in the film was created using an ice chipper. We wanted the feel of a documentary so the lighting for 'Fargo' was done to create a natural 'look'. But it was certainly not all natural light. As you know Minnesota well, you will know how dark in gets and how short the daylight hours are. We scheduled our coverage every day to shoot towards windows etc. early in the day and leave the shots that could be done totally with artificial light till last. I didn't use a lot of light, as it was a small budget film, but almost every shot is lit in some way. The night work was also 'lit' even though it was more a matter of adding practicals, boosting headlights, hiding 'gags' than it was of using large conventional film lights. It is flattering to me that you say it seems like natural light but, often, that can take the most effort.

[Jack]

Very interesting. I would agree the film has a very documentary feel to it. It brings out an almost sick reality to the film. I'm not reading too far into the comment am I?

[Roger]

Sick reality! I guess that;'s about it.